Dawn of Ash (Imdalind, #6)(107)

I had barely said the words when the violent image of Ilyan’s death flooded my vision, overlaying the city roof-scape with the steady flow of Ilyan’s blood. I cringed against it, my heart rate picking up to a dangerous level as the fear overtook me, my own unwillingness to accept what I was seeing erupting through me.

“Everything will come out all right,” I said again, part of me hoping—no, willing them to be true.

I shifted my body forward in an attempt to seek out Ilyan, as if seeing him would set everything right in my mind, confirm the good that I, too, was desperate for. My magic moved away from me to find him, but instead of streaming to the courtyard, I was pulled in a different direction.

My mind and magic drifted over the city, winding through the streets as my heart rate increased, dread filling me as the shadow of what I was certain I wouldn’t feel again drifted over me.

My mind filled with the images of the dilapidated city, the streets shrouded in the black of night, the ancient beauty of it turned into a dangerous labyrinth I had no interest in entering. That was, until the shadow of magic I was feeling sparked through me, everything tensing as the image of a single, cloaked figure moved through the dark, running from street to street as it had the last time I had felt its magic.

“It’s the same.” My voice was a hollow monotone as it rumbled through the dusk, the magic winding through me with a deep mockery as every muscle tensed through me.

He was here.

After what he had done, after what people had seen him do, he had come back.

“What’s the same?” Ryland asked from beside me.

My focus was so intent on what had unfolded I didn’t even answer him.

“Ilyan,” I said aloud, fully aware Ryland could hear me. “Sain is in the city. I can feel him on the other side of the river—”

Sain! Ilyan’s voice erupted loudly, his body running into the center of the courtyard as he looked up to me. Why would he come back?

He asked the question, although the answer was so clear I almost hated having to say it. Sain had been doing much more than spreading rumors; I was confident of that. And if you took the time to play a game, you didn’t walk back into your enemy’s territory without a motive.

“It’s a trap.”

There was no doubt. However, we couldn’t let him get away, either. I had no question that he was very aware of that. It was a game of the worst sort, but at least we weren’t going into it unaware. If we played our cards right, we could have the upper hand.

How many does he have? Can you tell what he’s planning?



“I’ll find out. You get a team together. As many as you can.” I looked at Ilyan as his mind followed mine. His eyes were hard, his jaw straight as he nodded in confirmation.

“Can I be part of this conversation, too?” Ryland groaned from beside me, his weight shifting as he moved to stand. “I’m Ilyan’s second. Doesn’t that count for something?”

“Stop being a baby,” I growled, not even paying him attention as I closed my eyes, focusing my magic on what I assumed was Sain running through the streets and moving out from there. I scoured everything as I looked for any other trace of magic, for anything that would tip me off to what he was planning.

“I hate that you guys do that.” I wasn’t certain if Ryland was laughing or growling. His voice was too distorted from where my mind was focused on the city and any tips as to what was about to happen. There was nothing. I moved through every street in the city, every building, but it was empty except for the Vil?s that lay in hiding.

“There’s nothing.” My voice was dead, the shock still rumbling through me uncomfortably.

I wasn’t certain how that was possible. Why would he come back if not for a trap?

Nothing anywhere?

I didn’t blame Ilyan for questioning.

“No, I can’t find anything. That doesn’t mean he isn’t up to something, though. It’s up to you if we want to go in blind or not.”

I looked to Ryland then, who was now so irate at being left out of the conversation I half expected steam to start issuing from his ears.

“Care to fill me in?” he snarled from behind clenched teeth, obviously trying his hardest to stay cool and fit for the role he currently held.

“Sain is in the city,” I said, surprised he hadn’t caught on to at least that much. “He’s alone.”

Even Ryland didn’t seem to believe that little bit of information judging by the way his eyes narrowed.

“Why would he come back?”

“Exactly,” I said, a finger wagging at him as he stepped back in obvious discomfort. “I say we go and leave the team on ready in case we need them.”

Ryland looked at me with even more confusion than before, clearly trying to follow along. “Go where?”

I guessed I probably should have mentioned that last part wasn’t for him.

Sounds good. I’ll meet you in the dark.

Ilyan’s voice faded, the directions clear, as I turned toward Ryland, his eyes now so wide, his temper so high I had a feeling trying to explain anything was going to be a fool’s errand.

Ask questions and seek apologies later, I supposed.

“I’m really sorry for what’s about to happen,” I whispered, my hand gripping tightly around his waist as my magic plunged into him, the energy flaring as I pulled him into the stutter with me, his scream loud in my ears.